The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-21
KELlHIOUs OPINION.

The Religious Commonwealth. of
London, discussing the subject Of
church union, says: While we are
sure that the lines and fences OF
church policy are 80 many barriers
to the spread Of saving truth, yet we
have no confident expectation that
all these artificial hurdles will be
pulled up by any sudden spasm of
spiritual impulse. II may be that
the way back to unity will at
first be by the obliteration
Of the minor divisions. The
Baptist genus may sink all its non
descript species and gather them
into real Baptist union. The
Presbyterian family may unite all its
children into Pan Presbyterian
church. The Episcopalians may see
that their High, Low and Broad
types are founded on clerical differ
ences that have no roots in eternal
truth. 1t is a high honor to the
Methodists that they are at least
willing to entertain this great ques-
ton. When all the other great de-
nominations once approach it, it can
never ,subside. 1t may have to wait
long for settlement"
The Hebrew Standard thus de-
scrlbes the characteristics Of what it
calls the new orthodox Israelites as
distinguished from the reformers and
the old orthodox They uphold in
theory the validity Of the oral law as
we'll as the written law, but do not
care TO interfere with the deeds of
their adherentS. They tell us that
some concessions must be made, prog
ress and culture must be recognized
as a powerful factor; so they arrange
family pews, have choirs with or with
out an organ, have abbreviated aud
modernized the liturgy, have estab-
lished order in the synagogue, and il
they see any OF their adherents enjoy
themselves at summer resorts in the
common hotel, or attend to business
on Sabbath, they close one eye, and
II needs be two eyes, aud don't say
anything further about it."
"The highest development Of
Christian character" says the Ex-
aminer, las we'll as truthfulness of
Christian thinking, demands that
due importance be Viven 10 our idea
TO the holiness and Justice of God.
We arc not TO disregard that
which is majestic aud awful in
His nature that we may dwell simply
on what is amiable. If the latter
attracts US more, IL is a certain indi-
cation that our characters need a
more bracing spiritual atmosphere.
We are in danger Of lowering our
ideal Of moral purity and personal
duty by az much as we lower our con-
cepuon of the perfect holiness and
inaexible justice OF God. A one.
sided ideal will iufallibly result in a
one sided Christian manhood"
The Christian Advocate believes
in prayer culture. l! tho Wow ONE
people have Of prayer, that prepare
ton for il renders il pharisaical the
editor says, be correct, 'thon our
Lord, when His disciples came ask
ing to be taught how TO pray, should
have replied: %, foolish andwicked
disciples, who hath bcwitched you;
know yc not that prayer is TO be un.
studied and untaught2 IL the
mouth is but opened, God will Gil IL.
ye know not what spirit yc are OF.
Your question is profane. | cannot
answer it, But far different was his
reply to those inquiring disciples.
Not a syllable OF censure fell from
his lips. lilo was tender aud consid-
ate as much so as il he had looked
upon their question a. one Of the
iittest ever asked him luke xi, |.
4; Matthew vi, 5'l3). This fact
would seem a sufficient answer TO
the ill-advised suggestion that
prayer culture is sacreligious or 10
any way. harmful to the. preacher or
the people"
Some OF the newspapers having
spoken of the Order OF Deaconesses
as having been recently revived by a
prominent clergyman In New York
State, Bishop A. Cleveland Coke
makes in a Buffalo paper the follow
ing statement with reference 10 the
subject: " Deacouesses," he says,
have been in charge OF ,ho Church
Home in this city (Bufialo) for many
years, aud are recognized by the
canons rs an institution Of the
church. This order exists among the
French Protostants aud the Luther
aus Of Germany. They have long ox-
listed in Long Island and other do.
oescs Thirty years ago the writor,
then a clergyman in .Baltimore, took
an active part in the establishment
Of deaeoucsscs there, aud MIS-. Tyler.
a lady Of family and culture, was the
first acaconess ordained by the Bish-
op OF Maryland at that time"
The Independent thus briefly dc.
scribes It's ideal religious newspaper.
THE religious newspaper should
take Peters idea for its guide. Such
a paper, II Christian in It's character.
processes TO be a teacher Of Bible re,
ligion and this Is Just what il should
do. The Word of God is It's only
safe guide. While, OF course, il
should give the current religious
news OF the day, 40 that its readers
may know what il being done to
promote the cause Of Christ among
men, IL should be anchored in that
Word, aud always speak as the ora.
elcs Of God IL should make itself
an apostle for Christ, stirring up the
minds and hearts Of It's readers TO
the consideration OF what God has
revealed in His Word. The religious
newspaper that fails 20 do this is
sunh Gale In n.,na IA, l. No, II.